Gang,
Took some time to write up my thoughts on our multiple front system. I previously wrote about Guidry’s defense [https://www.canesinsight.com/threads/guidrys-multiple-nickel-defense-the-basics.187031/] after the Texas A&M game. I drew on my prior experiences playing and coaching, and maintained an interest in what Guidry was doing.
I don’t want to get caught up in the weeds of labeling the system this or that. But, based on what I can observe, we are a 43 base schematically. But functionally, we base out of Nickel because of what we’re seeing from our opponents. Again, these are my observations from the outside.
I want to expand on my prior post and focus on some big-picture philosophical concepts I see. I’m trying to be an observer and not an editorialist. That being said, I think Guidry’s system is genius and does a beautiful job of mixing concepts from different systems.
Much can be said about the relation of the front to the coverage. The oldschool way of football placed the front and the coverage into one call. This is no longer the case. My prior post [https://www.canesinsight.com/threads/guidrys-multiple-nickel-defense-the-basics.187031/] talks about this in the context of the Gary Patterson brand of 425. The front has their own calls (strength, structure and movement) and the secondary has their own calls (strength, split field coverage or mirrored coverage). They function independently of each other unless a pressure is called.
However, there still needs to be some relation between the front and coverage. Some coverages mix better with certain fronts and against certain personnel groupings. Every defensive coordinator needs to carry enough in their system to have answers to questions. They also need to know the strengths of their personnel (and coaching staff). There are a number of factors that play into this. How big are we up front? Can our corners play man coverage? Can our safeties and nickel play man coverage? Are we a zone or man team? How much information can our guys handle? Are we young?
Last year, we ran a boatload of Man-Free (Cov. 1). This was consistent across all fronts. When we were in our 43 personnel, we liked playing an Under Front paired with it. When we were in Nickel, we did the same out of multiple fronts. It looked like we were a man coverage team—and the results showed.
Under (Cov. 1) v. 2 backs
Over G (Cov. 1) v. 1 back
A whole post can be made about the simplicity of Cov. 1 and its benefits in the run game with nickel personnel. If we were more of a Quarters (zone) team, I don’t think we would have looked as we did in our base 43 stuff. We might have seen some Over Front paired with Inverted Cov. 2 (Robber) instead of Man-Free.
Over (Robber) v. 2 backs
Over (Quarters) v. 1 back
This is just a long-winded way of explaining why I believe we’re functionally Nickel based, but on paper we are a 43.
Let’s take a look at our multiple fronts. My prior substantive post [https://www.canesinsight.com/threads/guidrys-multiple-nickel-defense-the-basics.187031/] identifies Guidry’s use of CFB field spacing to create hybrid positions—another reason why I think we are functionally Nickel based. A true 43 team would be flipping their personnel to get the best technique matchups. Below is a basic analysis of how we’re able to be effective in both odd and even fronts using the same personnel.
EVEN NICKEL: 43/42 Over v. 1 back [above]
ODD NICKEL: 50/34 v. 1 back [below]
Take a look at these two illustrations contemporaneously. On the top is what I would consider our nickel base look. Consider the following skillsets/body types listed below.
DL:
- E (field end): true strong side DE that you never want in coverage.
- N: true nose tackle
- T: DE with length and pass rush ability
- J (boundary end): Hybrid DE/OLB. A DE with enough coverage ability.
- M: true middle backer
- W: stacked backer with length and range. Will play on the edge at times and in space. This the “walk-out” linebacker against “spread” formations and our 9tech in bear front.
- S: Our Sam only comes in against heavier personnel. Probably 10% of snaps.
- B (boundary safety): Do everything safety. Plays as an overhang in single high fronts against 2 backs; could line up stacked as a LB in Bear; could play deep half on condensed field; man coverage on the slot.
- F (field safety): [subject of another post]
- $/N: [subject of another post]
- Field Corner: [subject of another post]
- Boundary Corner: [subject of another post]
Below is an illustration probably the most ubiquitous zone pressure used in football. Field Dog Fire Zone 3deep/3underneath.
The above play sheet uses dime personnel, but you can view this in Miami’s lens by analogy. On the pod I drew up some of our most common fronts using this same pressure. We are able to have the same people doing the same jobs (roughly) from different looks. It seems complicated, but it is not. See below.
Every system has to make compromises. There is no such thing as free lunch. I think Miami seeks to maximize their nickel packages, while being able to jump into a 43 at times. It is a constant struggle to keep things simple as you evolve and develop and, from everything I gather, Guidry’s system is simple enough for the players. That being said, we emphasize multiplicity in the front. We are constantly moving and stemming (shifting shortly before the snap). I don’t think we have the dudes to just line up and ball. Guidry and the gang implemented the system to make up for that by drumming up chaos up front and relying on man coverage. The results spoke for themselves.
Send over questions or topics you would like for us to discuss. Go Canes.
